Sometimes, all it takes is one breakout series to shake up an entire division. That’s exactly what happened when Chicago Cubs crossed paths with a team that knew a thing or two about NL Central battles. Pete Crow-Armstrong absolutely lit up the field against Cincinnati Reds and, even the Reds manager Terry Francona couldn’t hold back from expressing his admiration for the young star.

The hype about Crow-Armstrong is no longer just in and around the Cubs, it is league-wide now and is headed for the stratosphere. Well, if you are getting praise from a competitor in such an intensely competitive league, you must be doing something right.

For the Cubs’ 23-year-old sensation, Francona said, “He’s got a lot of weapons to beat you,” referencing everything from his bat speed to confidence. “You start to know that you belong. And not just belong—you kinda dominate,” he further added. And wasn’t he spot on?

In the 7–3 win against the Reds, Crow-Armstrong went 3-for-4, scored three times, stole two bases and drove in a run. That was not an outlier—it has been the norm for PCA this season. After an .888 OPS in May with 9 homers and 5 steals, he kicked off June with another multi-hit game.

With 15 homers, 19 steals, which is third in the league and an .873 OPS through just more than 50 games, the center fielder is tipped to be setting up for a nine-figure payday. And, that payday could not be hypothetical for much longer.

Crow-Armstrong reportedly turned down a $75 million offer from the Cubs earlier this spring. Now his value is skyrocketing. The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney called any upcoming deal “clearly a nine-figure commitment,” and it is tough to argue.

PCA’s WAR already tops in the NL at 3.0. Plus, he is delivering defensively and offensively in high-leverage moments, which has made him almost irreplaceable in the Cubs line-up.

What makes this surge more interesting is how he is doing it his way. While multiple other elite hitters draw walks, PCA does not lean on free passes. He is a self-described “bad-ball hitter” and a good one. Despite just 11 walks, the star’s production has not decreased.

“What is rare is the damage being done outside the strike zone,” the Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.  Well, that makes Crow-Armstrong unique and he is not trying to force anything that messes with his rhythm.

As PCA’s stock soars, the ripple effects are being felt far beyond center field.

Jed Hoyer’s future is now entwined with PCA’s meteoric rise

Jed Hoyer, the Cubs president of baseball operations, has spent the past few years rebuilding the Cubs’ roster piece by piece. However, it is Pete Crow-Armstrong who can ultimately define his legacy. With the star turning into the face of the team, Hoyer’s deal extension talks are now running parallel to those with PCA. If he can lock in PCA long-period, he might earn an extension himself.

Though news reportedly floated a deal worth up to $75 million in spring, Hoyer dismissed that news while adding that he was open to more discussions. “We had not talked in a couple of weeks when it leaked out when we were in LA,” he told reporters at Wrigley Field.

“In general, it is easier to negotiate if it is not out in the media. People are not speculating on numbers like that. Even the number that came out about that was not right. So that is kind of how we view it. The more we can keep things under wraps, the better when it comes to that. The not-talking-during-the-season (issue), to me, is a player-focused thing. I am not playing. I’ve got time to negotiate if they want,” he added.

However, PCA’s value has likely more than tripled. The star remains under the Cubs’ control until 2030. Still, he has left the door open for a talk mid-season. The Cubs can’t risk waiting, neither can Hoyer.

With PCA putting up All-Star numbers and generating league-wide buzz, the urgency to secure his long-term future has never been greater from the Cubs’ point of view. There are big decisions to be made. Stay tuned—this story is just heating up.

`